FHWA Bridge Information

Modeling Update Presented by: Mike Bartholomew, P.E. / CH2M HILL

for

AASHTO Subcommittee on Bridges & Structures

T-19 Technical Committee for Software & Technology

Saratoga Springs, NY

April 20, 2015

Topics

FHWA Project Vision and Objectives

BrIM vs. BIM

Technical Review of What’s Been Done

Open Source Software Application

Further Development of BrIM Standards

Industry Outreach Program

What’s Next

FHWA Initiative

Part of Overall Project DTFH61-11-H-

00027 – Advancing Steel and Concrete

Bridge Technology to Improve

Infrastructure Performance

Task 12 – Technical Review and Industry

Outreach for Bridge Information Modeling

(BrIM) Standards

Project Team

FHWA – Brian Kozy, Ph.D., P.E.

Lehigh University – Chad Kusko, Ph.D.

CH2M HILL – Mike Bartholomew, P.E.

Other Coordination

AASHTO T-19 – Scot Becker, P.E.

National Institute of Building Sciences – Roger Grant Advancement of Bridge Information Modeling Standards

using existing Industry Foundation Class (IFC) standards

Project Visions

FHWA Seeking to promote the use of BrIM

as a Technology Advancement to the way

the Bridge Community conducts business

Vision – Exploit Full Potential of Computer

Technology by:

Transforming Current Practice into

Full Digital Delivery

Project Objectives

Provide Bridge Community with credible, robust

digital standards

Identify Bridge Component model definitions to

develop 3D BrIM models for “workhorse” bridges

Promote Interoperability between various

Software Platforms, Project Functions, and

Users

Encourage Software Vendors to develop

translators to automate data transfer in a

universally standard format

BrIM vs. BIM

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a mature system for Vertical Construction 90% usage in 2014 according to McGraw-Hill

Construction

Geometric Layout defined by a primarily rectangular Building Grid/Floor Level System

BrIM is in early stages and is geared towards Transportation or Horizontal Construction No information on industry usage

Geometry is defined by Horizontal Alignments, Vertical Profiles, and Transverse Cross-Slopes

Work Previously Completed

Also Part of Overall Project DTFH61-11-H-

00027 – Advancing Steel and Concrete

Bridge Technology to Improve Infrastructure

Performance

Task 12 – Bridge Data File Protocols for

Interoperability and Life Cycle Management

State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo

Stuart Chen, Ph.D., P.E.

Work Previously Completed

Project Deliverables included: Vol. 1 – Implementation Roadmap for BrIM

Vol. 2 – Information Delivery Manual (IDM) Bridge Life Cycle Process Map

Activities Project Stages (e.g. Prelim. Design, Final Design,

Fabrication)

Disciplines (e.g. Roadway Eng., Structural Eng., Estimating)

Exchange Model Definitions Coordination between Project Stages & Disciplines

Data Definitions

Vol. 3 – Model View Definition (MVD) Elements Example bridge models

Example bridge component models

Current Project Work

Extension of work completed by

engineering students at SUNY Buffalo

Involvement of practicing bridge engineers

Identify critical bridge components of

“workhorse bridges”

Promote BrIM through Outreach

Workshops & Webinars

Current Project Work

Focus on development of Bridge

Component Standards

Data definitions

Parametric dimensioning

Standardized data schema/format

Referencing component location/orientation

station, offset, elevation, cross-slope

Referencing textual data

material properties, inspection data

Graphical representation in an open source

software environment

Open Source Software

Application

OpenBrIM Viewer – Red Equation Corp.

Uses EXtended Markup Language (XML)

Engineering on Cloud – Internet Browser based

Works on Computers, Tablets, and Mobile Phones Internet Explorer version 11+

Google Chrome

Mac OSX

Apple IOS iPhones and Tablets

Android Phones and Tablets

Microsoft Phones and Tablets

OpenBrIM Viewer v3.0

URL: http://openbrim.appspot.com/

Anyone can register

OpenBrim Viewer Features

Geometric Alignment Objects

Includes Circular and Spiral Horizontal Curves

Parabolic Vertical Curves

Crown and Cross-Slope Superelevation

Component Objects located by:

Alignment Station, Offset, Elevation, and

Cross-Slope

OpenBrim Viewer Features

Component Objects constructed

geometrically by:

Extruding a cross section object along a line

object

Lines may be straight or curved to follow alignment

Can use a simple circular cross section

Defining a planar surface object with a thickness

Connecting two planar surface objects to create a

volume object

Creating Standard Objects

Anyone can create a standard BrIM object

State DOT’s, Consultants, Contractors, Precast Concrete & Steel Fabrication Plants, Suppliers, Software Vendors

Software Vendors responsible for developing translators to graphically display and read/write BrIM object data with their application

Standards submittals will be subjected to an acceptance process, then stored on a server database maintained by FHWA (or representative)

System relies on active bridge industry participation

3-D Object View

Section Variable Definition

Plan Variable Definition

OpenBrim CADD Cross Section

OpenBrIM Standard Code/

Section View

OpenBrIM Standard Code/

Plan View

Further Developments

Pier/Abutment Control Line Alignment

Definitions

Girder Working Line Alignment Definitions

Deck, Girder, and Haunch Variations

through Superelevation Transitions

Prestressing Strand Pattern Definition

Reinforcing Steel Bar Bending Definitions

Industry Outreach Webinar

Topics:

Overview of projects and FHWA goals

BrIM Modeling Extensions and Applications

Bridge Modeling Evaluation – IFC and other approaches

Q&A/Discussion

Industry Outreach Workshop

IBC Workshop W-5

Bridge Information Modeling,

Standardization & Interoperability

David L. Lawrence Convention Center

Pittsburgh, PA

Thursday, June 11 – 8 AM to noon EDT

IBC Workshop W-5 Agenda

FHWA Vision and Role – Brian Kozy/FHWA

Owner Perspective/AASHTO T-19 – Scot Becker/WisDOT

FHWA Technical BrIM developments to date (OpenBrIM Viewer Demo) – Mike Bartholomew/CH2M HILL

Audience interaction/roundtable

Modeling standards gap analysis and review of IFC – Roger Grant/NIBS

Discussion and Q&A

Lessons learned and future directions of BIM in Steel Industry – Luke Faulkner/AISC

Lessons learned and future directions of BIM in Concrete Industry – Pete Carrato/Bechtel

Audience interaction/roundtable

What’s Next?

Soliciting feedback from the Bridge

Community

2nd Workshop being planned in August in

Washington, DC

Evaluation of OpenBrIM vs. IFC extension

of BIM

Identify future work, including a

management plan for standards storage

Questions?

Thank you for your attention

Mike Bartholomew/CH2M HILL

mbarthol@ch2m.com